The San Diego Chargers announced Wednesday that they have signed linebackerJarret Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson isn’t a dynamic pass rusher, but he’s long been one of the better edge-setting, run-defending outside linebackers in the game. Johnson can play several linebacker positions.
If the Chargers are seeking a sack specialist, however, they will need to turn to April’s draft. Johnson turns 31 this summer and has never recorded more than six sacks in a season.
He only has four sacks over the past two years, a 32-game stretch.​

I don't like the signing.. but we'll see.. He'll just turn into another LaBoy, if Perry falls to us and we don't select I will go ape ****. Jarret Johnson is nothing without a Suggs type player lineup up on the other side..

I don't like the signing.. but we'll see.. He'll just turn into another LaBoy, if Perry falls to us and we don't select I will go ape ****. Jarret Johnson is nothing without a Suggs type player lineup up on the other side..

If the Chargers don't pick Perry but pick Ingram or Mercilus or Branch, will you still go ballistic?

I see Johnson as nothing more than a depth player, didn't Laboy sign a similar deal (3yrs) and he might not survive past one year? And there's still a possibility that Garay returns

Click to expand...

Branch doesn't have the potential Perry does, and Mercilus I'm afraid might be a one year wonder..

Ingram might be a good pick, might not, he'll most likely play in the 4-3, Perry is fit for the 4-3 but can certainly play 3-4 now that we have a coverage guy like Johnson.. Johnson also tough on the ground, I don't see room for LaBoy/English anymore really..

English's salary is 1 mil. My guess is he'll come into camp with one chance to make it right and if he doesn't he's cut early. 4 OLBs with the potential to get another in the draft, but maybe not first round. Chargers stated publically they thought one of the biggest problems was that Phillips/Barnes/Laboy played way too many snaps. As such bringing in durable guy who specializes in run stopping makes sense - Chargers will put Johnson in on obvious run downs, let the other guys rest and keep them fresh (esp Barnes) for the passing downs.

Sweet - now I can get a Chargers jersey with my name on it without being douchey THANKS AJ!!

p dot s - I actually like the pick-up, solid rush defender and a durable guy. Not a big splash kind of move but a good one. Definitely worth holding off on slashing my wrists over the lack of acceptable FA activity in SD. Whew!

The Chargers have said bolstering the pass rush is a primary concern this offseason, but quality free agent options are rapidly disappearing. LB Ahmad Brooks (49ers) and DE Jeremy Mincey (Jaguars) have resigned with their teams. While the Jets have placed a first-round tender on DE Aaron Maybin. If the Chargers want a quality pass rusher they may have to pony up the money for DE Mario Williams (Texans).

The Chargers have said bolstering the pass rush is a primary concern this offseason, but quality free agent options are rapidly disappearing. LB Ahmad Brooks (49ers) and DE Jeremy Mincey (Jaguars) have resigned with their teams. While the Jets have placed a first-round tender on DE Aaron Maybin. If the Chargers want a quality pass rusher they may have to pony up the money for DE Mario Williams (Texans).

Click to expand...

You'd think a "professional" sports writer would know the Chargers do not have the cap room to sign Mario.... you'd think.

Losing Johnson is a bigger blow than many think because he was the most underrated player on the Ravens' defense. Baltimore will likely try to replace him with Paul Kruger, but I'm not sold on that. Kruger is a pass rusher who will have trouble setting a physical edge against the run.

The original plan was to eventually replace Johnson with Sergio Kindle, the team's top draft pick in 2010. But Kindle fractured his skull when he fell down two flights of stairs before his rookie training camp, and he's never been the same. I believe the Ravens will have to go in free agency to find someone who can do the same things as Johnson.

Never a Pro Bowl player, Johnson was tough and dependable, playing in 129 straight games — the longest streak in team history and the fourth-longest currently among linebackers. His ability to rush the passer declined the past two seasons, but his impact against the run shouldn't be overlooked.

Johnson is headed to the Chargers now, but he will always be an AFC North-style player.

You'd think a "professional" sports writer would know the Chargers do not have the cap room to sign Mario.... you'd think.

Click to expand...

Why? Our local radio guys aren't smart enough to know that. In fact, one of the local guys, i am sure most can guess, has been claiming we had $35 mil available under the cap. No wonder the average fan gets pissed when we don't make a big splash, they think we have the cap room to do so when in reality, we don't

Quality nose tackles are hard to find. The position might be the most important in a 3-4 defense, the lynchpin that allows other players to thrive. Without a solid push up the middle or the ability to attract double teams, a consistent pass rush is harder to generate, which in turn forces the secondary to cover for too long. The Chargers are once again in need of a stout nose tackle, something that never a concern when Jamal Williams wore lightning bolts. Antonio Garay rose from the scrap heap and played well at times, but he proved to be a two-down player and is headed for free agency. The search for a quality nose tackle could prompt the team to re-sign Garay and add young depth, or let him go in favor of a top-tier free agent. Here's a look at some options from a relatively shallow free-agent pool:

Best availablePaul SoliaiThe Miami Dolphins love this 6-foot-4, 355-pound mauler, but they're expected to switch to a 4-3 and don't have a true spot for him anymore. That should lead him into free agency, where he'll have plenty of suitors. The Chargers will probably be among them. He has moved into a starter's role during his five-year career and proved himself so valuable that the Dolphins placed a franchise tag on him last season. Only 28, he could be productive in the middle of the Chargers' defense for a long time.

At the right priceSoine PouhaThe New York Jets' 6-3, 325-pound nose tackle is 33 years old, which means the Chargers might find him attractive as a short-term option while developing others behind him. The Jets were stout up the middle last season, especially against the run (an area where the Chargers have been lacking), and Louha was a big factor behind that. The Jets might try to re-sign him at too high of a price, but if the market falls, the Chargers should consider him strongly.

The incumbentAntonio GarayThe Chargers value Garay's production over the last two seasons. He had a career year in 2010, proving that injuries had hindered his potential and value. He's better served as a two-down tackle in a rotation, but he loves San Diego and could return to the Chargers at the right price. That wouldn't be a bad thing, as it would allow Cam Thomas to develop as an understudy and keep the defensive line chemistry intact.

Feeling a draftDontari Poe (Memphis)Poe has all the measurables one would look for in a nose tackle. He's huge at 6-4 and 346, and flashed surprising speed at the NFL combine with a 4.98-second 40-yard dash. He'd be a solid pickup at No. 18, and could use his physical tools to help the Chargers right away despite the fact that he's a raw talent.

Johnson isn't a pass rusher though, and none of the coaches or front office think he is. He is brought in here to help on 3rd downs and be a leader in this locker room and defense. Good move, I'm biting my words now. I thought he was a rushing OLB, which he can be schemed in but wasn't too much in BAL but I really hope the Chargers don't scheme him to be, because what he does best is line up over the TE stuff the holes, which painfully were open almost all year in that SD defense and drop back in coverage and keep guys fresh.

The draft is where we HAVE to draft a pass rushing specialist. If we can't get Garay back or Solali, My guess is we'll look at Poe if he is still around at 10-11-12-13-14 and trade up and take an OLB in the 2nd round.